Summer Olympics 2016 Rio: Route road race – women

Sunday, August 7, 2016 – At 141 kilometers, everything is there in the women's Olympic road race: tough climbs, flat sections, cobbles... The route in Rio is definitely one to look foward to.

Starting at Copacabana, the riders race along Ipanema and Barra to Grumari Natural Park, located west of the city. The first climb is the Grumari – 1.2 kilometre at 7% with a steepest section 13%. The road is narrow so it’s essential to be up front at the foot of the climb.

Grota Funda is next, a 2.1 kilometres climb at 4.5% with a maximum grade at 6%. So that’s doable, albeit the Grumari Natural features something extra: a cobbled sector of 2 kilometres.

eading back to Rio, just before Ipanema the National Park Serra da Tijuca ushers the riders in for a second inland spin. The two-stage climb up Canoas and Vista Chinesa leads to an elevation of 715 metres, while the two climbs total 8.9 kilometres. The steepest section brings a 18% grade.

When cresting, the top offers magnificent views over Rio. But not for long, as a technical 6 kilometres drop takes the riders down before a flat section at 10.7 kilometres brings the riders back to the finish line at Copacabana.

The route of the women’s road race at the Summer Olympics in Rio is both a climbers and a spectators dream.